TOMMY Miller has admitted that tomorrow night's home game against Southampton is now a 'cup final' after Ipswich's latest setback at Preston.After squandering the chance to go fourth Town have an opportunity to keep up the play-off pressure when they take on the relegation-threatened Saints at Portman Road.

Derek Davis

TOMMY Miller has admitted that tomorrow night's home game against Southampton is now a 'cup final' after Ipswich's latest setback at Preston.

After squandering the chance to go fourth Town have an opportunity to keep up the play-off pressure when they take on the relegation-threatened Saints at Portman Road.

Miller, who scored twice in the 3-2 loss at Preston, is determined the Ipswich players won't be tanning themselves on their holidays while the battle for promotion rages on.

He said: “We have a great team spirit and we want to be in the play-offs. We don't want to be sat on the beach watching from afar - we want to be in there.

“We don't want to be watching the teams in there thinking 'Jesus, how are they in there?' we want to be involved in it.

“Preston was a set back. Tuesday against Southampton is a cup final and we can put this right.”

Town can do neighbours Norwich a favour by beating the Saints who are third from bottom but hitting decent form, and Miller doesn't mind if they win ugly.

Miller said: “This is a massive game. Southampton are fighting for their lives and we are fighting to get in the play-offs so it sets it up nicely.

“We have got our home form going. We got the three points against Forest, it was not pretty but we won and we need more of the same on Tuesday.

“We have to go for it, fight for each other and we need to win.

“The three points will set us up nicely. Results have gone our way so we don't know how many we will need by the end of the season.”

With tough away games at Wolves, Reading, Bristol City and Cardiff to come, and with the way so many clubs are dropping points, Miller is realistic enough to know Town may not win every time but is determined they stop making it hard for themselves.

He said: “We might be able to afford to lose the odd game but we can't afford to keep giving away early goals.”

Miller's two goals against Preston takes his impressive record to eight goals in 10 appearances against the Lilywhites, which includes three goals in two games for Hartlepool against them in the Football League Trophy.